Essay by Dr Gonsalves included in book ‘Beyond West Minister in the Caribbean’

An essay entitled ‘The Quest for Constitutional Reform in St Vincent and the Grenadines’, written by this country’s Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has been included in a new book entitled ‘Beyond Westminister in the Caribbean’.

The book, edited by Professor Brian Meeks of Brown University (USA) and Kate Quinn, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of the Americas, University College, London, was published by Ian Randle Publishers of Jamaica.

It analyses Westminister governance in the post-independence Caribbean and reflects on the weaknesses of the model, the absence of a will to change despite deficiencies, and proposals for the way forward.

The book offers a critical review of the Caribbean constitutions and a frank discussion of whether these small states can weather the threats that have presented themselves since the end of the cold war and the rise of neo-liberalism.

It also looks at the question, can the Westminister model survive and thrive in the contemporary Caribbean, or is it time to move beyond Westminister?

The book: ‘Beyond Westminister in the Caribbean’, also includes a preface by Professor Meeks and an introduction by Dr Quinn.

There are six other essays by distinguished scholars and three others by political leaders Bruce Golding, Peter Phillips and Dr Ralph Gonsalves.